Ice creeper



Sept. 5, 1939. E, D wlTMER I 2,171,618

ICE CREEPR Filed sept'. 17, 193s Fi-f5 :Fig-E CQ: B7

INVENTOR. 45 4 4 E. D. N11-MER BY n l l' ATTORN Patented Sept. 5, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT GFFECE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ice Creepers.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved icecreeper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an impro-ved ice Creeperincluding novel releasable attaching means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ice Creeperso constructed that the weight of the wearer is equally distributed onboth the shoe and the Creeper.

A further object is to provide an improved Creeper having novel springaction gripping teeth.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in Connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoe with an ice Creeper thereonembodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ice Creeper shown as mounted on ashoe;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line v3 3 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is' a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the parts inposition ready to be detached;

Fig. '7 is a side' elevation of a modified ice creeper shown as mountedon a shoe;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9 9 Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan showing the blank from which the springmember is formed.

Referring to the drawing by reference CharaCters I have shown myinvention as embodied in an ice Creeper which is indicated generally atI3. As shown the ice Creeper I0 includes a base II and a detachablespring gripping member I2. The base member I I is suitably secured byrivets II to the instep I3 of a shoe I4 and preferably adjacent to theheel I5.

'Ihe base Ii is preferably made of sheet metal and is provided withgrooves I6 defined by downwardly extending flanges I'l and inwardlyextending tongues IB. The forward ends of the tongues I8 are bevelled asat I9. The tongues I3 are also Cut away at each side as at 20 to provideslots as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

'Ihe detachable spring member I2 comprises a plan securing portion 2 I,a downwardly extending looped portion 22 and a forwardly extendingportion 23. The extreme end of the curved portion 23 is provided with anarcuate portion 24 which slidably `engages the shoe instep. A gripmember 26 is secured to the member I2 between the portions 22 and 23.The grip member 23 includes a body 2 having inwardly extending ilanges28 and 29 which partially surround and tightly engage the spring memberI2. The member 26 also includes downwardly directed sharpened tonguesI3l which are integral with the inner ends of the ilanges 28 and 2S.

The upper end of the downwardly directed loop 22 is notched on bothsides as at 32 to allow the securing portion 2| to freely slide withinthe grooves I6. A spring 33 secured by a rivet 34 to the portion 2l isso arranged as to be in alignment with the slots 2i! when the rear ofthe plate portion 2| contacts the heel I5. The portion 24 of the springmember I2 engages and slides along the shoe instep each time weight isapplied thus causing the spring member to have a tendency to flattenout; thereby distributing the weight on the heel, sole of the shoe andon the grip member 26.

'I'o attach the gripping member I2 to the base member II the portion 2lis inserted in the grooves I6 and moved rearwardly until the spring 33contacts the bevelled portions I9 on the tongues I8. Further rearwardmovement of the spring member I2 will flex the spring 33 until it slidesalong the lower surface of the tongues I8. At the rearward limit of itsmovement the portion I2 engages the heel I5, the spring 33 engages inthe slots 2G thus' securely holding the spring member l2 in position.

'Io remove the spring member I2 the spring 33 is gripped on both endsand pulled downwardly until the slots 20 are cleared after which thespring member I2 may be easily removed and carried in the pocket readyfor use when desired.

In Figs. 'l to 10 I show a modied ice Creeper 35 which includes a base36 and a spring mem ber 3l'. The base 36 is suitably secured to theinstepl of a shoe as by rivets 3B and is provided with downwardlydirected ilanges 39 from which inwardly directed tongues Il!! extend toform grooves 4I.

The anges 39 at their forward ends are notched to provide lips 42 whichextend downwardly and which are bevelled at their outer ends as at 43.

The spring member 31 includes a flat upper pork tion 44 with the rearthereof notched as at 45 to form a tongue 46 which is bent down betweenthe tongues 40 as shown in the drawing. The

forward end of the spring member 31 is looped downwardly as at 41,thence rearwardly as` at 48. A gripping device 49 is secured to therearwardly directed portion 48 of the spring member. `The grippingdevice 49 is similar in all respects to the gripping device 26previously described and is held in tight engagement by the resiliencyof the material.

A spring 5I is secured to the portion 44 by a rivet 52 and is soarranged as to engage the lips 42 to hol-d the spring member inposition. In attaching the spring member 31 to portion 44 is shiftedalong the grooves 4I until the spring 5I engages the bevelled portions43 and rides over these bevelled portions and springs into position asshown in Fig. '1 where it will be noted that the tongue 46 engages theheel 53 of the shoe 54.l

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have inventeda novel ice creeper which can be economically manufactured and which ishighly eilicient for the intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an ice creeper, a member having means thereon adapted to attachthe same to a shoe, said member including an arcuate portion having agripping spur thereon, said arcuate portion terminating in a free endportion adapted to engage the bottom of a shoe.

2. In an ice creeper, a clamping member, a gripping member detachablymounted on said clamping member, said gripping member including anarched portion having a gripping spur thereon, said gripping memberincluding a forward end portion adapted to slidably engage the bottom ofa shoe.

3. In an ice creeper, a member having means thereon adapted to attachthe same to a shoe, said member including a resilient portion having -agripping spur thereon, said resilient portion Y the bottom of a shoe.

5. For use with a shoe including a body, a heel, a sole and an instep,an ice creeper, said ice creeper comprising a base, means to rigidlyattach said base to the instep of a shoe, said base including opposed,parallel grooved portions and a detachable spring member including aflat portion slidably fitting said grooves, means for detachablysecuring said spring member in place, said spring member including anarcuate portion and a gripping member on the lower part of said arcuateportion.

6. For use with a shoe including a body, a heel, a sole and an instep,an ice creeper, said ice creeper comprising a base adapted to be rigidlyattached to the instep of a shoe, and a detachable spring memberincluding a portion slidably tting said base, means for detachablyholding said spring member in place, said spring member including adownwardly directed portion and a gripping member on the lower part ofsaid downwardly directed portion.

'1. An ice creeper comprising a base member and a detachable springmember, said base member including opposed, spaced, parallel groovedportions having aligned notches intermediate their length and beingbevelled at their forward ends, said detachable spring member includinga flat upper body portion having parallel sides and of a width to slidewithin said grooved portions, said body portion having a spring thereonadapted to engage in said aligned notches, said body portion having arear portion which is reduced in width and bent downwardly to form atongue, said spring member including an arcuate portion extendingforwardly from said tongue, the forward end of said arcuate portionincluding a bearing portion adapted to engage the bottom of a shoe and agripping member on said arcuate portion, said gripping member havingspurs thereon.

8. For use with a shoe including a body, a heel, a sole and an instep,an ice creeper, said ice creeper comprising a base, means to rigidlyattach said base to theinstep of a shoe, said base including opposed,parallel grooved portions and a detachable spring member including aflat portion slidably fitting said grooves, means for detachablysecuring said spring member in place, said spring member including arearwardly directed end portion adapted to be disposed in advance of theshoe heel and having a gripping member thereon.

- EARL D. WITMER.

